Anderson's Penick a small win at event

BAKERSFIELD — No local wrestlers advanced to the second day of the California Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Championships on Friday. The silver lining is a couple victories.

Anderson's Patrick Penick (170) had the best day of them all, when you factor in that he was seconds from going to overtime in his elimination match. His first match was a 13-2 setback to Stone Escobedo of Fountain Valley but he bounced back with a pin of Enrique Padilla of El Diamante (Visalia) in 2:15.

Then came his tussle with Eduardo Mendoza of Birmingham (Lake Balboa), the Los Angeles City Section champ. He got Mendoza on his back with a takedown and got five points to tie the match late, but after the two went out of bounds and restarted, he yielded a reversal in the final seconds and nearfall to lose 13-9.

"I didn't think I would get the move at first but I worked it over and I was so close to pinning him," Penick lamented. "My goal was to medal. My goal is always to do the best. I came here to spectate last year so the competition was what I expected: Very tough.

"It makes me feel like everything is within reach and I know what to expect and what to get to. I know how I have to improve and get better next year and do big things," he added.

Foothill's Wyatt Landreth (285) also won a match and finished 1-2. He was pinned in 5:08 by Ryan Padilla of Glendora but stayed alive with a comeback 9-7 triumph over Mark Guerrero of North. He actually thought he had lost when the final whistle was blown.

His day ended in a 2:10 pin against David Hernandez of Birmingham.

"I wanted the day to end on the podium but it didn't work out. It was an issue of mine. I didn't go out there and wrestle. I might have been timid," he said. "I wanted to prove I could compete with everybody here. I guess the chips didn't fall that way."

West Valley senior Toby Fitzjarrell (182) dropped a heartbreaker in his first match, a 6-3 double-overtime loss to Max Best of Pioneer High in Woodland. They were tied at three points apiece entering the first extra period and after a scoreless minute, it was Fitzjarrell starting on top and needing to keep Best down to win the match. Best scored a three-point nearfall, catching Fitzjarrell in a bad position, and that sent Fitzjarrell to the consolation bracket.

In consolation, he was pinned in 3:37 by Jose Robledo of Wasco, the Central Section's No. 8 qualifier. That loss ended his high school career.

"I just wanted to go as far as I could, at least break even. It didn't happen," said the Eagles senior, who placed third in the Northern Section. "It's an honor to wrestle down here and to be on one of the mats. I got more opportunity than some kids in my grade who were expected go and didn't make it."

And as he walked off the floor, he realized the finality of it all.

"It just all hit me at once. I didn't want it to be over. I just wanted one more year."

Shasta's Taylor Halsey (182) went 0-2, drawing returning state finalist Nick Fiegener of Folsom in his first match. The senior lost in a 17-0 technical fall and then went down 5-2 to Angel Alcantar of Bloomington.

"I was actually glad I got (Fiegener) right off the bat because it was a good learning experience going against the best. He's got 100 pounds in each arm," Halsey said, adding that he had Alcantar on his back but couldn't finish. "That was disappointing.

"The goal was to get a good experience and know what it's like to be with the best. All great things must come to an end, it's been a great journey and being able to compete here is icing on the cake."